WESTFORD -- In the basement of a home valued at more than $800,000, at the end of a long driveway in an upscale neighborhood, authorities allege that a family and two other women were manufacturing drugs, police said Wednesday.

About 8:45 a.m., on Wednesday, police and federal Drug Enforcement Administration officers entered the home at 2 Mountain View Lane via a search warrant, leading five out in handcuffs: homeowner Bradley C. Heath, his son Bradley C. Heath II, his daughter Linley M. Heath, the younger Heath's girlfriend, Lyndsey T. Holston, and friend Prachi S. Joglekar, according to Westford police.

Diana Heath, wife of the elder Bradley and mother to the younger Bradley and Linley, was not home in the morning, and surrendered herself to police later in the day.

At their arraignment in Ayer District Court on Wednesday afternoon, attorney Jeff Higgins painted the Heath parents and daughter as a family who worked hard. He said that the Heath couple, who have been married for 35 years, each work two jobs to support themselves, and that their daughter works as a bartender. He said the younger Heath had a medical-marijuana card for anxiety.

But prosecutors alleged that there was a "highly volatile" clandestine lab in the Heath home basement, where butane honey oil, a concentrated form of THC, one of the chemicals found in marijuana, was being produced and sold.

According to court documents, the younger Heath, 22, made drug transactions in the driveway of his home while his parents were outside, discovered by police via surveillance.

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The allegations Wednesday sparked the attention of neighbors who went outside to look at the home, and drivers, who cruised down the street to get a look at the police action, a surprising sight among the pristine houses and tree-lined streets.

Because this charge violates the younger Heath's probation from a previous drug charge, he is being detained.

Bail was going to be set at $30,000, for charges of manufacturing a Class C substance, distribution of a Class C substance (THC), possession with intent to distribute a Class C substance, possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance (marijuana), possession of a Class B substance (crack cocaine), conspiracy to violate drug laws, and operating after a license suspension.

The four other suspects were held on $500 cash bail. At least Linley and Diana Heath had posted bail Wednesday afternoon.

While in court, Diana Heath buried her face in her hands, while the other members of the Heath family tried to shield their faces from reporters with cameras.

Westford police Capt. Victor Neal said more arrests are possible.

The younger Bradley Heath was arrested in 2013 on charges of possession of a Class B drug. The disposition of that case was not immediately available. Linley Heath is currently facing an operating-under-the-influence charge out of district court, prosecutors said.

Multiple forms of surveillance were used to watch the home over a period of months, according to Police Chief Thomas McEnaney. Confidential informants were also used in the investigation, court records say.

According to town assessor records, 2 Mountain View Lane is owned by Bradley Heath and Diana Heath and valued at $829,000.

Upon entry to the home Wednesday morning, authorities found a vacuum oven, allegedly for producing the butane honey oil, also known as "dabs." The younger Heath allegedly sold the drug in envelopes that said "Gold Street Extracts." Prosecutors said about $4,000 worth, or 80 grams, of the THC oil was found in the house, as well as more than 8 pounds of marijuana, valued at about $25,000.

When authorities entered the home, they said a smell of marijuana and butane was overwhelming, leading them to dispatch a hazardous materials team and the state police bomb squad, police and documents said.

Neal said a puppy was also found in the home, and that the dog may be put in the custody of Animal Control.

A line of black law-enforcement vehicles left the house around 1 p.m. after going in and out of the house's garage and front door. Garbage barrels remained at the end of the home's driveway, still full with trash. An American flag waved off the porch of the yellow house.

The investigation is ongoing. Neal said this is the first drug lab discovered in Westford.

Doug Flint, who lives on nearby Swanson Lane said it's not a good feeling to that this happened in his neighborhood. He said his son went to school with Linley Heath, but that he did not know the Heath family.

Selectman Don Siriani tweeted that the arrests were "outstanding work" for a "dangerous illegal home drug operation."

This is not the first time that such a drug manufacturing lab has been found in Greater Lowell. In March 2014, a buildup of butane vapors likely used for THC extraction caused an explosion and fire at a house on Astle Street in Tewksbury.

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